World’s Greatest Tenor performs for Sydney Opera House 50th Birthday celebrations
August 9 & 12, 2023 | Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House
The ‘world’s greatest living tenor’ Jonas Kaufmann will lead an all-star cast of some of the world’s leading opera singers for two exclusive concert performances of Ponchielli’s La Gioconda on 9 and 12 August as part of the Sydney Opera House’s 50th Anniversary celebrations.
In an exciting coup for Opera Australia, the acclaimed German tenor will make his role debut as Enzo Grimaldo in his first Sydney appearance since 2019.
Joining Kaufmann, and making her Sydney Opera House debut, is celebrated Spanish soprano Saioa Hernández singing the titular role of Gioconda. Winner of Best Soprano of the Year in the 2021 Oscar della Lirica competition hosted by the Spanish Opera National Association, Hernández has been hailed as ‘the diva of our century’ by none other than the inimitable Montserrat Caballé.
Completing the star-studded cast will be one of Australia’s most successful exports, mezzo soprano Deborah Humble, who will take a break from her international commitments to perform with OA for the first time in a decade; renowned French baritone Ludovic Tézier will reunite with Kaufmann to sing the role of the vengeful Barnaba; Polish mezzo-soprano Agnieszka Rehlis, who is currently making her Australian debut as Amneris in Aida, will sing the role of Laura Badoero; and Ukrainian bass Vitalij Kowaljow as Alvise Badoero, who makes a welcome return after his acclaimed performance in OA’s 2021 production of Ernani.
The Opera Australia Orchestra and Opera Australia Chorus will be led by distinguished conductor Pinchas Steinberg who attracted great acclaim for his previous Concert Hall appearance with Kaufmann and Tézier in Andrea Chènier in 2019.
Audiences have just two opportunities to see Ponchielli’s rarely performed masterpiece performed by some of the world’s best voices, in a grand and passionate opera that navigates power, love, treachery, and vengeance.
Creatives
Conductor Pinchas Steinberg
Cast
La Gioconda Saioa Hernández
Laura Badoero Agnieszka Rehlis
Alvise Badoero Vitalij Kowaljow
Barnaba Ludovic Tézier
Ezon Grimaldo Jonas Kaufmann
La Cieca Deborah Humble
Opera Australia Chorus
Opera Australia Orchestra
Performance information
-Evening at 7.30pm Aug 9
-Afternoon at 12.30pm Aug 12
Running time
-Approximately 3 hours including one interval
-Performed in Italian with English surtitles
-Production Partner is Qantas
Bookings
-Adult tickets from $269 (fees may apply)
Opera Australia Box Office
(02) 9318 8200. www.opera.org.au/
